Package Machinery Co. Inc.

Clarence F Prince

James S Groom

Roger L Putnam, Jr

A vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine comprises a source of flexible packaging material, a tube former which receives the material and forms a depending upwardly open tube, a product dispenser above the former discharges measured quantities of product to the tube, a side sealer closes juxtaposed edges of the tube, a feeder draws the material through the former, and an improved end sealer and stripper has jaws which close horizontally about the tube to a partially closed position, a stripper means on the jaws clears and flattens the end seal area of the tube as the partially closed jaws are swung downwardly to an end sealing position, and the jaws thereafter close and seal the tube.

Vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine with improved end sealing

A machine for stretch wrapping articles, such as trays of produce, poultry, meat and the like, has a wrapper feeding mechanism which positions measured lengths of stretchable wrapping material between an elevator mechanism and a folding mechanism which is located above the elevator mechanism and includes a plurality of relatively movable folding plates. Clamping mechanism releasably secures opposite marginal portions of the positioned wrapping material while the elevator mechanism raises an article to be wrapped into stretching engagement with the wrapping material, held by the clamping mechanism, and pushes the article up through an opening of adjustable size defined by parts of the wrapper feeding mechanism and the folding mechanism to stretch the wrapping material tightly over the article. Portions of the taut wrapping material are then folded under the article by the folding mechanism. A remaining portion of the wrapping material is folded under the article as the article is moved by an overhead conveyor across a stationary folding plate to a heat sealing station where the folded under portions of the wrapper are sealed against the bottom of the wrapped package.

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Springfield, MA, United States of America

Clarence F Prince